- Hear outstanding speakers and network with top professionals at the luncheon meetings that are FREE to RCC members
- Free company listing on the Reading Chamber website. www.readingohiochamber.org
- Receive a chamber membership plaque to display at your business
- Constant Contact email marketing service – save up to a 25% discount. Call 866-289-2101 and tell them you are a member of the Reading Chamber of Commerce.
- Office Depot discount. Contact Gustavo Parra at 855-DEPOT11 ext. 12674
Plus take advantage of the many benefits offered through our affiliation with (SOCA) Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance which include:
- SOCA Benefit Plan – This is Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s most competitive group health insurance program for groups with 50 or fewer employees. You have the benefits of a self-funded plan without the risk that comes along with traditional self-funding. Gain access to one of the largest doctor/hospital networks in the country with Anthem’s “Blue Access” network. Anthem’s rates can save up to 25% compared to traditional models and has annual renewals that are below the industry trend. SOCA has teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to administer this plan and to provide stop loss coverage. Call Anthony Sucato at 513-247-2701 or email him at asucato@risk-strategies.com.
- Anthem BC/BS Saver Plan – Your chamber Membership includes access to quality, affordable health care plan options from Anthem. As a chamber member with 2-99 employees, you will have access to a 1.4% savings on any Anthem group health insurance plan through a premium tax credit savings. Call Anthony Sucato at 513-247-2701 or email asucato@risk-strategies.com.
- SOCA Pooled Employer Plan – Under the SECURE Act, the first significant retirement-related legislation in more than a decade, employers can offer retirement plans to their employees through a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP). To learn more please contact, Dale Essenmacher at 248-212-3223 or email him at dale.essenmacher@newportgroup.com.
- Worker’s Compensation – Hunter Consulting Company provides comprehensive consulting and claims administration in the area of workers’ and unemployment compensations. The Group Rating program was designed to substantially reduce your company’s rates, which in turn represent significant savings for your company. Contact Brandon Hunter at 513-231-4023.
- Chamber Energy Program – Community Energy Advisors is a PUCO certified energy management firm that empowers organizations to maximize the economics of their energy assets. CEA delivers energy solutions that positively impacts your bill. For details email chamberenergy@ceateam.com.
- LegalShield IDShield – LegalShield provides outstanding legal coverage from established law firms that can support you as well as your business. Call Todd Goodwin at DataGuard at 855-294-0888 or email toddg@voluntarymkt.com.
- Elavon US Bank Payment Processing – Take advantage of Elavon’s payment processing program and get the Chambers preferred pricing. Call John Webb at 937-671-1606 or email John.webb@usbank.com.
- PartnerShip Shipping Benefits – Enroll in the Fed Ex Advantage program and save on FedEx Express (45% off) and FedEx Ground (25% off). PartnerShip also helps reduce your LTL freight costs. Email kathy@norwoodchamberofcommerce.org for the links for details and how to enroll.
- strategic HR– An outsourced HR management firm working with organizations that have a lean HR or no HR department. Our HR experts partner with you to support your HR needs. For a free quote, contact chambersales@strategichrinc.com.
- Chamber Sustainability Program – Viridi offers a complete menu of energy-related sustainability solutions for you and your business. Go Green by purchasing Renewal Energy Certificates (RECs). Contact Rick Davidson at rick@viridi.eco.
- Dolr – Student loan benefits are the #1 most requested benefits from employees that is not required by law. Employers offering Dolr have experienced 53% increase in retention across key roles. Employers can make tax deductible contributions to student loan repayment up to $5,250 per person per year and make matching contributions to 401(k) when employees make payments to student loans. For further details go here or email benefits@getdolr.com.
- Payroll Partners offers a local and dedicated support representative for each client, alongside award-winning HR/Payroll technology to provide a positive experience across the entire employee lifecycle. Active chamber members can take advantage of special benefits, which include free payroll for 90 days. To learn more information about the special benefits offered, click here or contact Program Manager, David Noe, at dnoe@payrollpartners.net or 859-545-3060.
For more information on any of these benefits, visit joinsoca.com or call Kathy Walters, RCC Administrative Director at 513-741-7951 or email kathy@readingohiochamber.org
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July 2023
RE: Group-Rating Safety Accountability
Dear Employer:
Each year Ohio employers have the opportunity to participate in BWC’s Group-Experience-Rating Program or Group-Retrospective-Rating Program. While these programs are not required, they do provide you with an opportunity to significantly reduce your workers’ compensation premiums, while increasing your awareness of safety and risk-management strategies.
Workplace safety is an important component of these programs. To succeed in accident prevention, we encourage you to use the many resources available to you. We believe a group-rating program is a partnership that includes you and your employees, your sponsoring organization or third-party administrator (TPA) and BWC. Each has specific roles and responsibilities, all designed to assist in preventing workplace accidents. This letter outlines the safety services expectations you should have as an employer enrolled in a group-rating program.
The employer will:
- Maintain a safe workplace;
- Attend safety training to enhance workplace safety;
- Use BWC’s safety services as needed;
- Fulfill the required two-hour training requirement and provide proof of attendance to sponsor for claim(s) occurring within the last year.
The certified primary and affiliated sponsoring organizations will:
- Sponsor eight hours of safety training (this may be done at one time or may be provided incrementally as long as the total is at least eight hours);
- Provide information regarding safety resources to group members;
- Possibly assist an employer in achieving its safety needs;
- Manage employer fulfillment of the two-hour training requirement, where applicable;
- Publish this letter to group members.
The TPA may:
- Assist sponsoring organizations with fulfilling the group-rating safety requirements;
- Assist an employer with its safety needs;
- Work in conjunction with sponsors to develop safety training and deliver safety resources;
- Provide resources for claims handling.
BWC will:
- Monitor all group-rating safety activities to confirm requirements are met;
- Remain in communication with sponsoring organizations to provide recommendations for fulfilling safety requirements;
- Provide safety training through Ohio’s Center for Occupational Safety & Health;
- Offer on-site safety consultation (hazard assessments, air and noise monitoring, ergonomics evaluation, training) by a BWC safety professional;
- Offer publications and videos for safety program support;
- Conduct employer visits to confirm the employer is meeting group-rating requirements, when appropriate.
The goal of this collaborative effort is to make sure all your safety needs are met. Using these resources will assist you in preventing accidents, reducing claims costs and achieving the highest discounts possible. Below you’ll find contact information for various resources.
Group sponsor: Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council
TPA: Hunter Consulting Company
BWC: https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/services/safetyhygiene.asp, groupratingsafety@bwc.state.oh.us